Pouring holders for milk cartons



July 31, 1956 EZ'G.1 1 $3 J. M. PUHL POURING HOLDERS FOR MILK CARTONS Filed April 18, 1955 I I 20 z0 FIG. 8

INVEN TOR. JOHN M PUHL AT TORNEY United tates Patent POURING HOLDERS FOR MILK CARTONS John M. Puhl, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,811

12 Claims. (Cl. 29431) The present invention relates to holders for milk cartons and the like.

Waxed cardboard milk cartons, particularly those of the extensively used half-gallon size, have been found diflicult to grasp and lift and to manipulate for pouring.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved holder for a milk carton and the like which will permit safe and convenient handling of the carton and fa cilitate pouring of the carton contents.

Another object is to provide an easily detachable holder which can be quickly and firmly secured to the carton.

Still another object is to provide a holder which can readily be applied to a milk carton of the type having upper walls forming a pull-out spout portion, and which will not interfere with the extension and retraction of the spout portion.

A further object is to provide a carton holder which is of simple, rugged and durable construction, and which is capable of inexpensive manufacture.

A still further object is to provide a carton holder which can be compactly folded for shipment and storage.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawing, illustrating certain embodiments of the invention,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a holder of the invention applied to a milk carton, parts of the holder and carton being broken away and parts being shown in section, and a pull-out spout of the carton being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the holder and associated carton, the carton spout being shown in open position;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail side view of the upper portion of the holder during installation on a carton, the carton being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail end view of the upper portion of the holder;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the holder in folded condition;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a modified form of holder applied to a milk carton;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the holder of Fig. 8 when applied to the carton, parts of the carton being broken away and parts being shown in section, and I Fig. 10 is a detail top view of the upper portion of the holder of Fig. 8.

In the drawing, designates a waxed paper milk carton, such as the commonly used half-gallon size which when full weighs about four pounds. The carton is of square cross-section and has a roof-shaped top 16 under opposite ends of which extend folded or creased reentrant portions 17 and 17 forming inwardly converging recesses 13. The carton top 16 further includes an upstanding multiple-ply ridge flange 19, the outermost ply at one side 72,757,034 Patented July 31, 1956 of the flange having a downturned flap 20 which extends over the outermost ply at the other side of the flange. The several plies of the ridge flange, including the flap 20, are secured together by a staple 21 which is horizontally offset from the middle of the ridge flange. The flap 20 has a central vertical score 22 permitting the unstapled halfsection 20' of the flap to be partially severed, as seen in Fig. 2, so that the associated folded reentrant portion,17' of the carton may be pulled out to form a pouring spout 23, Figs. 1 and 2. The various walls of the waxed paper carton are somewhat yielding or resilient, and are also somewhat slippery.

In accordance with the invention, carton-holding means are provided to enable safe and convenient handling of the milk carton. Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, 24 designates a carton holder comprising a handle 25, upper carton-engaging members 26 and 27 connected to the upper end of the handle, and a lower carton-engaging member 28 connected to the lower end of the handle. The handle is C-shaped and is here shown to be formed of a strip or band, such as of sheet aluminum, the vertical intermedaite portion of which has a concavoconvex cross-section. The upper end of the handle has a horizontal extension forming the carton-engaging member 27, this member being terminally bent to form two laterally spaced, upwardly projecting, backwardly inclined triangular teeth or barbs 29. The carton-engaging member 26 overlies the member 27 and comprises a length of resilient sheet metal, such as aluminum, having a horizontal rear portion 30 secured to the member 27, as by rivets 31, a riser portion 32, and a pair of laterally spaced, generally horizontal fork-forming tongues 33 having downwardly inclined free ends 34. The tongues 33, which form between them a slot 35 slightly wider than the thick ness of the carton ridge flange 19, project beyond the underlying teeth 29 and form guards for these teeth. The toothed member 27 is adapted to extend into the container recess 18 remote from the pull-out spout, and the teeth 29 of this member are adapted to engage and penetrate into the inclined ceiling walls of the carton roof 16. The forked upper carton-engaging member 26 is adapted to straddle the upstanding ridge flange 19 of the carton, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and not only prevents relative lateral shifting of the carton and holder but also insures the engagement of the gripping teeth 29 with the underside of the carton roof.

The lower carton-engaging member 28 comprises a length of strap or band stock, such as of sheet aluminum or plastic, bent to a loop of approximately square shape and aadpted to extend loosely about the carton. The loop-shaped member 28 includes a front bar 36, opposite side bars 37, and a rear bar 38, the latter having rearwardly bent parallel ears 39 at its middle portion formed by the ends of the strap. If desired, the ears 39 may be secured laterally together, as by Welding, although this is not essential.

The handle 25 lies in a vertical plane and has a forwardiy projecting lower end which is bent to form parallel vertical flanges 40 presenting between them a vertical slot 4] with a sloping rear wall 42. The ears 39 of the loop-shaped member 28 slidably fit in the handle slot 41 and are pivotally secured to the handle flanges 40 by a cross pin or rivet 43, permitting the loop-shaped member 28 to be folded upwardly as shown in Fig. 7. The rear edges of the loop ears 39 are adapted to abut against the rear Wall 42 of the handle slot, as seen in Fig. 1, thus normally holding the loop-shaped carton-engaging member in approximately horizontal position.

While the handle is here shown to be a sheet metal stamping, it may also be in the form of a metal casting or a plastic molding.

When the holder is to be applied to the carton, the carton is rested in upright position on a table or other support and is held by one hand, and while the holder is grasped in uprightposition by the other hand, the loopshaped member 28 of the holder is slipped downwardly over the carton. The flat vertical walls of the filled carton tend to bulge but will be confined by the loop-shaped member 28. When the upper gripping members 26 and -27 approach the roof of the carton, as shown in Fig. 5, the handle is urged slightly outwardly to permit the toothed member 27 to clear the carton, but the tongued member 26 is caused to straddle the upstanding ridge flange 19 of the carton and is brought to rest on the inclined roof surfaces of the carton. The toothed member 27 is .then forced inwardly into the container recess 18, causing the upwardly and backwardly inclined teeth 29 to grip the yieldingceilingwalls of the carton roof, as shown in Fig. l. Afterv the holder reaches its locked position, as shown in Fig. 1, the teeth 29 and overlying tongues 33 will prevent withdrawal of these holder parts unless considerable rear ward force is applied. The cartonmay thus be safely and conveniently lifted and transported by the handle, the holder member 27 being firmly engaged in the container side recesses18 for supporting the carton, and the' forkforming tongues 33 preventing relative lateral shifting .of the carton and holder. The holder requires no parts extending under the bottom wall of the carton, thus permitting stable seating of the carton and avoiding the'possibility of marring polished supporting surfaces. -When milk is to be dispensed, the carton pouring spout 23 is pulled out from the carton, and the carton is lifted and tilted by the holder for pouring the milk. The spout 23 may be refolded inwardly to its closed position when the carton is stored. The holder will not interfere with the extension and retraction of the spout.

When, the carton is empty, the toothed carton engaging member 27 is sprung out of the carton recess 18 by exerting considerable force in a rearward direction, and the lower loop-shaped member 28 is then slid upwardly off the carton. In releasing the teeth 29 from the carton, the carton may be damaged, but this is of no consequence, since the empty carton is discarded. The holder may then be applied to another carton or it may be temporarily stored, preferably in the compactly folded condition shown in Fig. 7. In the folded condition of the holder, the frontcross bar 36 of the loop-shaped member 28 extends below the toothed member 27, but if desired this cross bar may be arranged to extend above the member 26 by providing a shorter handle. The loop-shaped member 28 is frictionally retained in folded condition by contact at the ears 40. v

' For packaging or shipment, the holder is also arranged in the c'ompactly folded condition of Fig. 7. To place the holder in condition for use, it is only necessary to swing the loop-shaped member 28 outwardly to its normal positiondetermined by the stop wall 42 in the slotted lower end of the handle.

. The modified form of carton holder 124 shown in Figs. 8'to lincludes a C-shaped handle 125, generally similar to the handle of Fig. 1, and a loop-shaped cartone1r1bracing member 28 pivotally secured to the lower end of the handle, as in the device of Fig. 1. The upper end of the handle has a downturned flange 126 to which is secured, as by rivets 127, a cross flange 12.8 of a T-shaped cartonengaging member 129. The member 129 comprises an elongated sheet-metal blank folded on itself to form a fiat tapered shank or bar 130 disposed in a vertical plane, the ends of the blank being bent outwardly to form the cross fiange 128 and also having laterally spaced upwardly projecting lugs 132 which are bent to form laterally spaced, forwardly projecting, horizontal fork-forming tongues 133, corresponding to the tongues 33 of the device of Fig. 1, there being a slot 135 between the tongues to receive the carton flange 19. Near its front end the shank or bar 130 has an upstanding shoulderforming blade or tooth 136 which is adapted to project.

t upwardly between the plies of the carton ridge flange 13 at a region intermediate the cross portions of the staple 21, as seen in Fig. 9, thus resisting relative outward and upward displacement of the handle with respect to the carton.

In applying the holder 124 of Fig. 8 to the carton, the holder loop 28 is lowered over the carton, the holder shank is entered into the carton recess 18, bringing the blade 136 into staple-engaging position. In the, final position of the holder, best seen in Fig. 9, the tongues 133 will straddle the upstanding ridge flange 19 of the carton so as to resist relative lateral shifting of the carton and holder and to hold the blade 136 in staple-engaging position. The holder can then be used to lift and tilt the carton for pouring the contents thereof. When the carton is empty the holder is forced off the carton and can then be applied to a fresh carton.

The holder of Fig. 8 is foldable like the holder of Fig. 7 except that the parts are so proportioned that the front cross bar 36 of the folded loop member 23 will extend in protecting position above the blade 136. However, by lengthening the handle, the loop member 28 of the holder of Fig. 8 may be folded to extend under the upper cartonengaging parts, as in Fig. 7.

I claim:

1. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like having a top wall and a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising carton-engaging means including a carton-embracing section and a gripping section, said gripping section having cooperating parts one of which is adapted to enter said recess for engagement with the underside of said carton top wall and the other of which is adapted to overlie said top wall, at least one of said parts being toothed for engagement with said wall.

2. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like having a top wall and a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising container-engaging means including a carton-embracing section and a gripping section, said gripping section having superposed gripping members adapted to receive said carton top wall between them, one of said members having a toothed portion engageable with said wall and projecting toward the, other member, and said other member forming guard means for. said toothed portion.

3. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like having a roof wall with a ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said roof wall, comprising carton-engaging means including superposed upper cartongripping members and a lower carton-embracing member, one of said carton-gripping members being forked and adapted to straddle said ridge flange and to engage the upper side of said roof wall, the other carton-gripping member being upwardly toothed and adapted to enter said carton recess and to engage the under side of said roof wall.

4. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like of the type having a roof-shaped top wall with an upstanding ridge flange and further having recess-forming reentrant portions under said top Wall one of which portions forms a pull-out spout, comprising handled carton-engaging means including a carton-embracing section and an upper carton-gripping section, said gripping section having an upwardly toothed portion adapted to be inserted into said reentrant carton portion opposite the pull-out spout for engagement with the carton, and said gripping section further having laterally spaced parts adapted to straddle the carton ridge flange.

5. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like having a roof-shaped top wall with an upstanding ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess below said top wall, comprising handled carton-engaging means including a carton-embracing section and an upper carton-gripping section, said gripping section having an upwardly toothed portion adapted to be inserted into said carton recess for engaging the ceiling of said top wall, and further having a forked projecting portion overlying said toothed portion and adapted to straddle said ridge flange and to engage the upper side of the carton top wall.

6. A holder for a milk carton and the like having a roof-shaped top wall with an upstanding ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising a handle, a gripping portion and a superposed forked portion secured to the upper end of said handle, said gripping portion being upwardly toothed and adapted to extend into said carton recess for engagement with said carton top wall, said forked portion adapted to straddle said ridge flange, and a carton-embracing member attached to the lower portion of said handle.

7. A holder for a milk carton and the like having a roof-shaped top wall with an upstanding ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising handled carton-engaging means including an upwardly toothed carton-gripping portion insertible into said recess and a forked portion adapted to straddle said ridge flange, said forked portion being formed of laterally spaced tongues with downturned free ends engageable with the upper surface of the carton top wall, said carton-engaging means further including a cartonembracing member spaced downwardly from said cartongripping portion.

8. A holder for a milk carton and the like comprising carton-engaging means and a sheet metal handle, said means including a carton-gripping portion connected to the upper end of said handle and further including a carton-embracing member adapted to extend about the carton and having a pivotal connection with the lower portion of said handle, the pivotal axis of said member extending transversely of the plane of the handle, said sheet metal handle having bent laterally spaced parallel flanges at its lower end forming between them a slot pivotally receiving a portion of said carton-embracing member.

9. A holder for a milk carton and the like, comprising carton-engaging means and a handle, said means including a carton-gripping portion secured to the upper end of said handle and a loop-shaped carton-embracing member adapted to extend about the carton and having a pivotal connection with the lower end of said handle, the pivotal axis of said member extending transversely of the plane of the handle, said loop-shaped member having a cross bar lying under said carton-gripping portion when said member is swung to folded position.

10. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like of the type having a roof-shaped top wall with an upstanding ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising carton-engaging means including a carton-embracing section and a gripping section, said gripping section being formed of cooperating upper and lower parts the upper of which is adapted to straddle said carton ridge flange, and the lower of which is insertible into said carton recess and is upwardly toothed for engagement into the apex region of said top wall recess.

11. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like of the type having a roof-shaped top with an upstanding stapled ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising carton-engaging means including an upper section and a lower section and a handgrip connecting said sections, said lower section adapted to embrace the carton, said upper section having a part adapted to straddle said carton ridge flange, and having another part insertible into said carton recess and being upwardly toothed for engaging within a stapled portion of said ridge flange.

12. A holder for a paper milk carton and the like of the type having a roof-shaped top with an upstanding multiple-ply ridge flange and further having a laterally opening recess under said top wall, comprising cartonengaging means including an upper lifter section and a lower carton-embracing section and a hand grip connecting said sections, said lifter section being insertible into said carton recess and having an upwardly projecting part adapted to engage between plies of said ridge flange.

No references cited. 

